My roommate and I were watching O’Brother, Where Art Thou this morning where the town folk take the racist governor candidate, place him on the railroad tie, and run him out of the building.
We then got to talking about the origin of ran out on a rail. Both of us thought it had to do with being thrown onto the next train and told not to come back. However this doesn’t fit with the being tossed on a railroad tie like in the movie. Of course I realize that movies are not the greatest sources of information.
I tried searching several etymology websites and past threads on the Dope but could not find an explanation-thus I turn to the teeming millions to help me out.
What is the etymology of the phrase Ran/run out on a rail?
Usually, it’s what was shown in “O Brother.” A person would be put on a railroad tie and carried out of town. Tar and feathers are optional.
I’m not sure if this was actually done, but even if it wasn’t, the phrase was certainly popularized by movies portraying it this way.
Tar and Feathers optional? Wasn’t that the preferred punishment of the 17th and 18th century for tax collectors?
So, does the phrase predate railroads?
I thought a fence rail was the desired implement. A railroad tie is pretty heavy.
herman_and_bill called it. The rail was a fence rail, particularly one of the split rails (with appropriate roughness of texture and splinters) commonly used to pen cattle on the village green where it would have been handy to the courthouse (or tavern serving as one) or any other public building suitable for gathering and inciting mobs.
As in “Abe the railsplitter”.
interesting.
I always thought it was actually forcing someone to board a train and stay aboard for at lease a certain distance. Sometimes a sheriff’s deputy or other law enforcement officer would ride along to make sure the individual complied.
I vaguely remember this being done in the Clint Eastwood movie Unforgiven.